#1051 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Monday January 13)

Good morning,

Bertrand Russell on fascists, “First they fascinate the fools. Then, they muzzle the intelligent.”

NO PHONES IN SCHOOL

School boards and parent groups are engaged in hand-to-hand combat over which books should be allowed to be studied in school or contained in school libraries. Too much sex? The “wrong” kind of sex? Racial stereotypes? Canceled authors? Profanity? Subversive ideas? Too long/boring? It is ironic that in institutions founded on the principles of broad learning and open discussion, the consumption and examination of literature and ideas, that censorship seems the major focus. For shame.

It is time for the adults to refocus their attentions on enhancing the learning environment in the schools and doing their part to minimize social stigmatization, bullying, and violence in the schools. In my mind, the most important issue to face these same school boards, parent groups, and school administrators is the explosion of cellphones on campus. Not only are they a distraction, but they are tools for bullying and humiliation. They have grown to become the vehicles for the dissemination of isolated events, like fights and rampaging, that both will stimulate similar sorts of activities and over-emphasize these relatively isolated incidents. Plus, these videos show kids in their most awkward and vulnerable moments, memorialized forever. Just when kids should be kids, they now are forced to perform before multiple cameras, adjusting their behaviors to perceived social norms, constantly anguished over what others might see, and re-see, from moments they would sooner forget.

But it gets violent, as well. Some of this is staged and that staging results in choreographed violence. After all, if you want to go “viral,” find as much sick behavior to repost. Natasha Singer, of The New York Times noted last week that, after studying more than 400 fight videos and after interviews with students, teachers, police officers, and parents, they found that “a pattern of middle and high school students exploiting phones and social media to arrange, provoke, capture, and spread footage of brutal beatings among their peers. In several cases, students later died from the injuries.”

There is an easy fix. Ban cellphones for the duration of the school day—not only in class, but on the playing field, lunch, and breaks. Force them to be turned in at the beginning of each school day. Our school systems have existed without the constant onslaught of “information” and the ubiquity of cameras for a long time. There are precious few examples that can be given for when a cellphone is a necessity. If a student wants to arrange a meeting with a classmate, plan on meeting in the quad or in front of a classroom—the old fashioned way—in person. If there is an emergency at home, parents can call the school office. Otherwise, let’s unplug these kids—for their own mental well-being, the advancement of learning, and the avoidance of physical harm.

TO BE A TEACHER

There is an old adage that says that “the older I get, the smarter my parents seem to have been.” (I don’t recall the exact quotation or who uttered it). There is great truth in this. The further one gets from one’s childhood, the more clearly we can see the wisdom, sacrifice, and nurturing of parents. Part of this is an epiphany once one has children of one’s own. Similarly, as we get older, there is greater realization of the impact teachers have had on us. As I recall some of these from my pre-teen and teen-aged years, I can see in mind’s eye nerdy Mr. Leader, with his thin ties, who imparted a childlike wonderment with science, disorganized Mr. Nicholson who could wax poetic about the beauty of algebra, crazy Mrs. Wade, who introduced us to John Gunther at too young an age, and Mr. Tomlinson, the bright young speech and English teacher. There were others; it is not a short list.

Recently, our wrestling coach and social studies teacher, John Dahlem, passed away. He later became principal of our school and was a fixture in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). He was a force of nature, who (among other things) scaled the tallest peaks on all seven continents and was one-half of the oldest father-son ascent of Everest. He was a dedicated teacher, a funny guy with a great sense of humor, and an adult who knew that part of his job was to help turn his adolescent charges into responsible and productive adults. As I read the many tributes to him on Facebook, I was reminded of the profound impact that he had on so many kids’ lives. It made me recall this wonderful quotation of Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much, who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than they found it, who has never lacked appreciation for the Earth’s beauty, who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves.”

I could go on. Suffice it to say that John was all of these things and more. Those of us who were taught or coached by him were changed by him. I’m sure most of you have a similar story. I know our kids had some great teachers. I worry whether all kids in all public schools are benefiting from the same experience. My gut is that, with lower test scores and less literacy and numeracy probably also comes less mentoring in life lessons and life skills.

IF WINE IS POETRY…

Robert Louis Stevenson said that “wine is bottled poetry.”

If wine is poetry, I think winemakers may be poets. Here is a thought from my favorite wine maker, Tor Kenward, musing about his son losing his home in a wildfire:

“Heartbreaking; however their reliance and support system has been inspiring for this old man. I sense they will be different after all this passes, but more tempered and bonded with their friends and community. The seeds are planted in the ash.”

Perhaps some good will rise from all of this calamity…

Have a great day,

Glenn